Machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes



Nov. 13, 1951 A. D. WILLHAUCK 2,574,680

E PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES MACHINE FOR TURNING TH 4 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed July 21, 1948 Inventor Augustus D I/VzZZhczuc/f Nov. 13, 1951 A. D. WILLHAUCK 2,574,680

MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Filed July 21, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 13, 1951 A. D. WILLHAUCK MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Filed July 21, 1948 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ti ""5 Lil i;

A ug uslus Nov. 13, 1951 A. D. wlLLHAucK' 2,574,680

MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Filed July 21, 1948 4 Sheets-$heet 4 in ven for Augustus D. l l z'llhaucif I i 'atented Nov. 13, 1951 MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Augustus D. Willhauck, Stoneham, Masa, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 21, 1948, Serial No. 39,876

5 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for turning the platform covers of platform shoes and is herein disclosed as embodied in a machine of the type illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,448,102, granted August 31, 1948 on an application filed in the name of Robert H. Lawson. The illustrated machine, like the machine disclosed in the patent to Lawson, just mentioned, is provided with a pair of U-shaped turning tools adapted to fit around the respective ends of an inverted shoe and to engage within the unturned platform cover. The turning operation is performed by urging the shoe downwardly first into one of the U-shaped tools and then into the other tool by means of a plunger operating against the shoe bottom. The action of the plunger is assisted by an auxiliary tool similar to the friction tool disclosed in said Lawson patent.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved platform cover turning machine of the type under consideration. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the illustrated machine is provided with means for automatically initiating the actuation of the auxiliary tool operating means at substantially the same instant that the plunger engages the shoe bottom. In accordance with another feature, the illustrated machine is provided with yieldable means for holding the friction tool in engagement with the platform cover during the turning operation. In accordance with still another feature, the illustrated machine is provided with an improved arrangement for so mounting each of the U-shaped turning tools as to enable the tools to flex freely and thereby to accommodate themselves to a wide range of sizes and styles of shoes to be operated upon.

These and other features of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the operating instrumentalities of an illustrative machine in their initial positions;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the turning instrumentalities as they engage the shoe and are about to begin the turning operation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the turning instrumentalities at an advanced stage of the operation;

Fig. 4 is an angular view, looking down, of the turning instrumentalities and their operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a toe-turning tool with a narroW-toed shoe mounted thereon;

2 Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the toe-turning tool with a wide-toe shoe mounted thereon; and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. '7.

The platform cover turning instrumentalities of the illustrated machine comprise a heel turning tool It, a toe turning tool [2 (see Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive), a shoe bottom engaging plunger I 4, and an auxiliary tool l6 which operates frictionally against the platform cover to assist the plunger i i in turning a platform cover C of a partially finished shoe over the tool Ill. The partially finished shoe, as shown herein, is mounted on a last L and it has a platform, comprising a midsole M and a wedge heel H.

The supporting structure of the illustrated machine is similar to that disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,448,102. It comprises a hollow sheet metal column i8 (Fig. 1) having a rectangular cross section and adapted to rest on the floor, and a head 20 mounted upon the column 58 and consisting of a generally rectangular box-like housing member having a bottom wall or base plate 22. Openings in the walls and top of the head 20 are closed by suitable cover plates, not shown in all of the figures.

The illustrated machine is driven from a motor 24 (Fig. 1) through a belt 26, a clutch 28, and speed reducing gearing 3i Ihe clutch 28, which is normally disengaged, can be engaged to start the operation of the machine by depression of a hand lever 32 (Fig. 4). The clutch mechanism is designed to disengage the clutch 28 and bring the machine automatically to rest at the end of the operation. The effect of the driving mechanism, while the clutch 28 is engaged, is to positively move a slide 34 downwardly in a guideway formed in a post 36, such movement being effected through rack teeth on the slide. Upon disengagement of the clutch 28, the slide 34 is moved up to its initial position by a pair of springs 38, one of which appears in Fig. 1. These springs act upon a rod til extending down from the slide 34. A collar 42 adjustably secured upon the rod determines the upward limit of movement of the slide 34. The driving arrangements of the illustrated machine, as above described, from the motor 24 to the slide 34 and including the post 36, springs 38, rod 40, and collar 42, are all similar to corresponding arrangements disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,448,102, above mentioned, except for the fact that a flexible disk 43 is interposed in the gearing of the illustrated machin to absorb shock.

The plunger I4, as best shown in Fig. 4, is a U-shaped member with a smooth undersurface adapted to bear downwardly upon an end portion of the shoe bottom. It is rigidly secured by a pin 44 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) to the lower end of a bracket 46. The plunger I4 has an upstanding lug or tongue 48 which fits within a groove formed in the bracket 46 to insure against the turning of the plunger about the pin 44. The bracket 46 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 50 secured between a pair of ears 52 extending forwardly and upwardly from the forward end of a lever arm 54. Journaled in the cars 52 above the pin 59 is a pin 56 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) having an intermediate eccentric shank portion 58 (Figs. 1 and 4). This eccentric shank portion fits within a groove 59 (Fig. 2) formed in a lug 60 extending upwardly from the bracket 46. The lefthand end of the pin 56., as shown in Fig. 4, is slotted to facilitate the turning of the pin 56 to adjust the angular position of the bracket 46 about the pin 56, thereby adjusting the position of the plunger I4 with accuracy forwardly and rearwardly in relation to the end of the shoe bottom. A set screw 62 (Fig. 4) threaded into one of the ears 52 holds the eccentric pin 58 in an adjusted position.

The arm 54 is integral with and extends forwardly from a hub 64 (Fig. 4) which is rotatably mounted upon a pin 66 secured in lugs 68 formed on the interior surface of the head 20. A link '59 pivotally connected at its lower end to the top of the slide 34 and at its upper end to the arm 54 transmits the operative movements of the slide to the arm. Thus when the clutch is tripped to start the machine through its cycle of operation the slide 34 and with it the arm 54 are positively lowered through the gearing 30 and upon completion of the operation they are automatically raised by the springs 38 to their initial positions.

The friction tool I6, like the corresponding tool disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,448,102, above mentioned, consists of a plate having a convex working surface upon which are formed upwardly directed teeth which engage the platform cover C and urge it upwardly to facilitate its being turned over either of the U-shaped turning tools. The friction tool I6 (Fig. 1) is mounted indirectly on a substantially horizontal link E2 the forward end of which is pivotally mounted upon a pin I4 carried between the upper ends of a pair of arms 16 and 18. These arms are integral with and extend upwardly from a hub 80 which is freely rotatable upon a pin 82 secured in a boss 84 (Fig. 4) which extends from the interior surface of the head 20. The rear end of the link I2 (Fig. 1) is pivotally mounted upon a pin 85 which is carried between the upper ends of a pair of arms 88. The arms 88 are connected at their mid-portion by a cross bar to form an integral structure shaped like the letter H and their lower ends are mounted upon a pin 90 carried by a post 92 extending upwardly from the base plate 22 of the machine head. The mounting of the link I2, as above described, enables the link to be moved forwardly and rearwardly to bring the friction tool I6 into and out of engagement with a shoe.

Forward movement of the link I2 to bring the friction tool I6 into its operative position is effected by a cam 94 (Fig. 1) which engages a roll 96 freely and idly rotatable upon a pin 98 secured in the arm I6. The cam 94 is formed integrally upon the forward end of an arm I09 which extends forwardly from and is integral with the hub 64. It is evident from the above description that the arms 54 and I are integral with each other and swing as a unit about the pin 66. The operative surface of the cam 94 has a nonconcentric portion or rise Hi2 which, when the cam descends, urges the roll 96 and, therefore, the link I2 and arm :6 forward. The cam rise I02 merges with a surface I64 which is concentric with the pin 66 and which, therefore, enables the cam to be depressed further without advancing the link 72 beyond its desired operating position. A spring I06 connected at its forward end to the link I2 and at its rear end to the arm 54 at a point adjacent to the hub 64 urges the link I2 rearwardly and holds the roll 96 against the cam 94.

The friction tool I6 has a downward extension I08 (Fig. 1) by which the tool is pivotally mounted upon a pin III) carried by the forward end of a lever II2 (Figs. 3 and 4) fulcrumed at its intermediate portion upon a pin H4. The link I2 at its forward end has a downward extension HS which carries the pin IE4. Mounted on the lever II2 and surrounding the pin III is a torsion spring II8 (Fig. 2) which urges the friction tool I in a clockwise direction to hold it against a backing roll I (Figs. 1 and 2) indirectly carried by the link '52 as will later be described. The rearward end of the lever I I2 carries a roll I22 (Figs. 1 and 3) which can be urged downwardly by a shoulder I24 (Fig. 3) formed on an arcuate sector I26. The roll I22 is normally held up close to the shoulder I24 by a plate I28 which is integral with and which extends laterally and forwardly from the forward end of an arm I39, the rear end of which is mounted for free swinging movement upon the stationary pin 66. The arm I39 is held up by a tension spring I32 the rear end of which is secured to a lug I34 depending from the arm I39 and the forward end of which (not shown) is anchored to the interior of the head 20. A tail I (Fig. 1) extending from the sector I28 down below the shoulder I24 maintains a space between the shoulder and the plate I28 into which the roll I22 returns after the sector I26, in descending below the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, has forced the roll forward beyond the shoulder. When the roll I 22 is thus forced forward, during the final portion of the descending operative movement of the sector I26, it rides idly upon a smooth concentric outer surface of the sector.

The upward or operative movement of the friction tool l6 heightwise of the shoe is effected by a downward movement of the sector I26. For guiding the sector in such downward movement a pair of shoulder screws I36 (Fig. 3) engage an arcuate (concentric) slot I38 formed in the sector I26 and coaxial with the pin 56. These screws I36 are threaded into a triangular upstanding bracket I having a horizontal flange Hi2 (Fig. 4) through which the bracket is secured by screws I44 (one of which is shown in Fig. 4) to the link 12. It is evident that, by reason of the construction so far described, the sector I26 is normally held up by the spring I 32 as far as permitted by the engagement of the lower end of the slot I38 with the lower screw I36.

The sector I26 is normally disconnected from the operating mechanism and is not connected until about the time that the plunger I4 engages the shoe bottom. In order to effect such engagement, the upper portion of the sector I26 is provided with ratchet teeth I46 which are engageable with complemental teeth formed upon the rear end of a. pawl, I48. A shoulder screw I threaded into the arm 54 engages a guide slot I52 formed in the pawl I48 to guide the movements of the pawl toward and from its engaging and disengaging positions. The forward end of the pawl I 48 is pivotally connected by means of a pin I54-(Figs. 1 and 3) to an upstanding arm of a bell crank I56 which is fulcrumed upon the pin and retained thereon by a collar I55. The

pin I54 engages a lost motion slot I51 formed in tension spring I68 secured at its lower end by a pin I61 to the bracket 48 and at its upper end to the pin I normally holds the feeler pin I64, I66 down to a stop position determined by the engagement of the block I62 with a shoulder on the bracket 46. When the feeler pin I64, I68 is in its lower or stop position the pawl I48 is out of engagement with the sector I26. A nut I (Fig. 4) threaded upon the right-hand end of the pin I60 clamps a square block I69, formed on the pin, against the forwardly extending arm of the bell crank I56.

The backing roll I20 is not mounted directly upon the link 12 but is rotatably carried upon a shoulder screw I10 threaded into the lower end of a lever I12 (Figs. 1 and 4). portion of the lever I12 is fulcrumed upon a pin I14 (Fig. 3) carried by a plate I16. As best shown in Fig. 4, the plate I16 is somewhat L-shaped, its forward portion being secured by a pair of screws I18 to the forward portion of the link 12. The forward portion of the plate I18 extends laterally from the link 12 and then rearwardly; the link 12 and the plate I16 thus constitute a somewhat U-shaped structure. Secured to the upper end of the lever I12 is the forward end of a tension spring I80, the rear end of which is secured to the forward end of a screw I82 (Fig. 4). The rear portion of the screw I82 extends freely through a hole formed in a lug I84 upstanding from the rear portion of the plate I16. A pair of nuts I86,

that the degree of tension of the spring I can be adjusted by turning the nuts I86. The spring I80 urges the lever I12 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3) to press the roll I20 forwardly against a rib I 88 (Fig. 1) formed on the rear surface of the friction tool I6. Such movement of the lever I12 about the fulcrum pin I14 is limited by the engagement of the upper portion of the lever with a shoulder I89 (Fig. 2) on the forward portion of the plate I16. The normal or stop position of the roll I20 with respect to the link 12 can be adjusted by loosening the screws I18 and sliding the plate I16 forwardly or rearwardly. Such adjustment is permitted by the provision of a slot I90 formed in the plate I16 to accommodate the screws I18. The forward position of the backing roll I20 should be just about enough to provide for a rearward yielding of the roll to the extent of about a; of an inch when the link 12 advances and brings the tool I6 into engagement with the platform cover of the shoe.

The intermediate The turning tools I0 and I2, which are made of spring steel, are carried by a sector-shaped bracket I92 (Fig. 1) which at its lower end is mounted for transverse swinging movement upon a pivot pin I94. Either tool may thus be moved into its operative position while the other tool is moved out of operative position. A safety arm I96 connected to the clutch mechanism prevents tripping of the clutch unless the bracket I92 is in operating position for either of the tools I0 and I2. The pin I94 together with the provisions for securing it to the machine frame, the sectorshaped bracket I92 together with the provisions for operating it and locking it in operating positions, and the safety arm I96 are all similar to corresponding parts of the machine disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,448,102. The turning tools I0 and I 2, as shown in the drawings, have work-engaging portions similar to although not exactly like the work-engaging portionsof the corresponding tools disclosed in the patent just mentioned.

The turning tools I0 and I2 of the machine herein illustrated are not secured rigidly to the sector-shaped bracket I92 but are so mounted thereon as to enable them to conform freely to the shapes of the ends of the shoes to be operated upon. The arrangements for mounting the tools I9 and I2 are similar and the following description will serve for both. Each tool has a generally U-shaped work-engaging portion I98 (see way 2533 (Figs. 6 and 8) formed in an upstanding lug or supporting bracket 284 integral with a support or holder 286. A shoulder screw 208 prevents longitudinal or heightwise movement of the plate 299 in its guideway and the head of this screw prevents the plate 200 from moving outwardly far enough to become disengaged from the guideway. A limited extent of movement along the shoulder of the screw is permitted as the forwardly extending arms of the work-engaging portion I98 flex toward and from each other. It is evident, therefore, that the plates 200 on each side of the tool I0 (and likewise of the tool I I2) are free to move outwardly to accommodate wide heels or toes and to spring inwardly to hold the tool against narrow heels or toes. Not only can the plates 200 yield outwardly along the shoulders of the screws 288, but these plates can also bend and twist in the same manner as the corresponding portions of the tools disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,448,102. The form assumed by the tool I2 when engaging a narrow toe is shown in Figs. 5 and 6; the form assumed by this same tool in engaging a wide toe is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In Fig. 7 the normal form of the tool is indicated by dash lines.

Each of the holders 206 is held against lateral movement by a depending tongue 209 engaging a complementalgroove formed in the top of the sector-shaped bracket I92 and is held against forward and rearward movement by means comprising a clamp 2I8 pivotally mounted upon a pin 2I2 secured in the bracket I92. Extending up from the clamp 2I0 are a pair of lugs 2I4 screw 2I8 against an abutment 223 (Fig. 4) on the bracket I92. This abutment-has an undercut recess which engages a tongue on each holder 286 to prevent disengagement of the holder by heightwise movement. This arrangement renders each of the turning tools Hi and I2, together with its holder 2%, readily removable and readily replaceable by another tool of different size or shape when wide variations in the sizes or shapes of the shoes to be operated upon are encountered. Notches 224 formed in the abutment 223 cooperate with the safety arm I96 to permit the clutch to be disengaged when one or the other of the tools It or I2 is in operating position.

The operation of the machine will now be described. The heel or toe end of the shoe is mounted, in the manner described in Letters Patent No. 2,448,102 already mentioned, upon the appropriate turning tool II! or I2 and the hand lever 32 is depressed to start the machine upon its cycle of operation. The slide 3:1 is thus depressed by the gearing 39 to swing the arm downwardly, thereby lowering the plunger l4 and advancing the link 12 to bring the tool I6 yieldingly into engagement with the platform cover. If the midsole M should extend rearwardly slightly beyond the work engaging portion I98 of the turning tool, the forward thrust of the friction tool I6 will move the shoe forwardly into a suitable position for the turning of the platform cover C. Shortly after the friction tool It has thus been advanced into its operating position, the plunger I4 engages the bottom of the platform and by its continued downward movement. forces the shoe down, thereby causing the platform cover to be turned over the work-engaging portion I98 of the turning tool. During the idle downward movement of the plunger It,

that is, the movement from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the pawl I48 remains disengaged from the ratchet teeth I46 and no upward movement of the friction tool It takes place. However, at about the same time as the plunger I4 engages the platform bottom the feeler pin I64, I86 also engages it to cause the pawl I48 to engage the ratchet teeth I46 and thereby move the arcuate sector I26 down. The lever H2 is thus rocked to move the friction tool I6 upwardly and thereby cause it to assist the plunger I4 in turning the platform cover. Fig. 3

shows the positions of the plunger I4 and the friction tool I6 shortly before the turning of the platform cover has been completed. After completion of the turning, the roll I22 will ride 1 8 I4 may not, upon its first contact with the heel bottom, lie flat thereupon, it is evident that before the plunger has descended to the position shown in Fig. 3 the entire under surface of the plunger will engage the heel bottom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, a tool adapted to engage within the unturned platform cover of a shoe at one end of the shoe, a plunger engageable with the shoe bottom, means for moving the plunger heightwise of the shoe first into contact with the shoe bottom and then against the shoe bottom to cause the platform cover to be turned over the tool, an auxiliary tool engageable with the platform cover to assist the plunger'm turning the platform cover, means for operating said auxiliary tool, and means for automatically initiating the actuation of said auxiliary tool operating means substantially simultaneously with engagement of the plunger with the shoe bottom.

2. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, a stationary tool adapted to engage within the unturned platform cover of an inverted shoe at the heel end of the shoe, a plunger engageable with the shoe bottom at the heel end of the shoe, means for depressing the plunger first into contact with the shoe bottom and then further while in such contact to cause the platform cover to be turned over the tool, a friction tool engageable with the platform cover, means for raising the friction tool in frictional engagement with the platform cover to assist the plunger in turning the platform cover, a feeler movable with the plunger and engageable with the shoe bottom, and means responsive to the engagement of the feeler with the shoe bottom for causing said raising means to initiate the operation of the friction tool substantially simultaneously with the contacting of the plunger with the shoe bottom.

3. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, a stationary tool adapted to engage within the unturned platform cover of an inverted shoe at the heel end of the shoe, a plunger engageable with the shoe bottom at the heel end of the shoe, means for depressing the plunger first into contact with the shoe bottom and then further while in such contact to cause the platform cover to be turned over the tool, a friction tool engageable with the platform cover, means operated by the plunger depressing means for raising the friction tool in frictional engagement with the platform cover to assist the plunger in turning the platform cover, a connection in said raising means which is initially disengaged to render the raising means inoperative, a f'eeler movable with the plunger and engageable with the shoe bottom, and means responsive to the engagement of the feeler with the shoe bottom for engaging said connection to render the raising means operative.

4. In a machine having means for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, an auxiliary turning instrumentality comprising a friction tool engageable with the platform cover of a shoe, means for moving said friction tool heightwise of the shoe while in frictional engagement with the cover to assist said turning means in turning the'cover and thereby to lessen the strain on the cover as it is being turned, and yieldabl'e means for holding the frictionv tool in engagement with the cover during the operation.

9 10 5. In a machine having means for turning REFERENCES CITED the platform covers of platform Shoes an auxil The following references are of record in the iary turning instrumentality comprising a fricfile of this patent: tion tool engageable with the platform cover of a shoe to assist said turning means in turning the 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS cover and thereby to lessen the strain on the Number Name Date cover as it is being turned, means for moving 935,765 Mayo Oct. 5, 1909 said friction tool in a direction tending to turn 2,422,737 Lawson June 24, 1947 the cover, a roll engageable with said friction FOREIGN PATENTS tool, and spring means acting upon said roll to 10 cause the roll to press the friction tool yielding- Number Country Date 1y against the platform cover during the opera- 129,271 ermany Mar. 24, 1902 tive movement of the friction tool.

AUGUSTUS D. WILLHAUCK. 

